Adam B. Forsyth
@adambforsyth.bsky.social
PhD student at Cambridge. I study the legal, political, ecclesiastical, & intellectual history of England in the 16th & 17th centuries, & history of the book! Views strictly my own.
独立之精神，自由之思想
www.hist.cam.ac.uk/people/adam-b-forsyth
独立之精神，自由之思想
www.hist.cam.ac.uk/people/adam-b-forsyth
Pinned
Adam B. Forsyth
@adambforsyth.bsky.social
· Jun 16
![Screen capture of article title and abstract:
England's Erastus? Or, James Morice and the Law of Excommunication
Adam B. Forsyth
Faculty of History, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Abstract
The Elizabethan reign has lately emerged as a formative period for English ideas about the liberties of the subject and the 'ancient constitution' of the realm. Recent work has described the development of such ideas as having been driven by an organized campaign against the English ecclesiastical courts: a legal and intellectual effort that had emerged from the misgivings of certain 'puritan' lawyers about the powers claimed by new prerogative jurisdictions.
The primary grievance of the campaign has been identified as having been the church courts' use of the oath ex officio, and the campaign's primary defensive tool has been identified as having been the twenty-ninth chapter of Magna Carta. But overlooked manuscripts reveal a more complex story. This article shows that the law of excommunication was as important to the campaign in question as Magna Carta. In addition, a re-examination of the life and work of James Morice, one of the principal lawyers responsible for the campaign, demonstrates that the law of excommunication deeply structured his understanding of the royal supremacy, and of the legal relationship between England's secular and ecclesiastical polities - particularly as they had existed in the distant medieval past.
[Introduction]
Where did English 'ancient constitutionalism' come from? How did the medieval common law begin to be associated with personal liberty in early modern England; and how did certain conceptions of freedom start to become an integral part of what (for some) it meant to be English? Seeking to answer these questions, among others,](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qunxd6yue3igcj6qdubntwlb/bafkreicbycyvq23lukysr3fu6swvdraw6axxsdgdm5ekjgznqsixhxglyi@jpeg)
My first article, ‘England’s Erastus? Or, James Morice and the Law of Excommunication’ is now out on FirstView with The Historical Journal.
doi.org/10.1017/S001...
doi.org/10.1017/S001...
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
It's hardly an original observation, but it really is astonishing how accomplished and penetrating this book is over such a wide range of themes
October 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
It's hardly an original observation, but it really is astonishing how accomplished and penetrating this book is over such a wide range of themes
There are more possibilities for video games about early modern English ecclesiastical / other litigation than have hitherto been acknowledged.
For reasons too complex to explain here, I wrote an Apple II program designed for Early Modern Age Catholics to determine if they're allowed to have sex with their wife, or if it'd be a sin.
Here's the video of it running.
Here's the video of it running.
October 26, 2025 at 1:30 AM
There are more possibilities for video games about early modern English ecclesiastical / other litigation than have hitherto been acknowledged.
It’s complicated, but in some ways it actually somewhat precedes that, since the ‘subtype’ that had been most controversial in the Elizabethan period had already been banned by the Canons of 1603/4.
October 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
It’s complicated, but in some ways it actually somewhat precedes that, since the ‘subtype’ that had been most controversial in the Elizabethan period had already been banned by the Canons of 1603/4.
It seems important to me that many of those in Britain who most clearly believed in some form of human equality were strongly in favor of the American Revolution, which encouraged their hopes for a more humane world. E.g. the Unitarian minister John Disney and John Jebb (both abolitionist):
![• I extract this from an elegant and animated encomium. " He, with the divine Milton, thought no exertion was loft. This [maxim] was the guide of his practice; is replete with good sense and philofophy ; and has even had the fanction of obfervation and experience. Nor was he totally difappointed.
He lived to see tyranny defeated, and the
seeds of freedom planted in another world. He lived to see the principles of liberty propagated far and wide; and that knowledge, with which his own mind was peculiarly illuminated, diffused to an extent for which he could scarcely have hoped."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qunxd6yue3igcj6qdubntwlb/bafkreicbgpjfiu4lgj3hlqzluoz7w7q36olvyt5u4hnnimbnhnod4lc35a@jpeg)
September 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
It seems important to me that many of those in Britain who most clearly believed in some form of human equality were strongly in favor of the American Revolution, which encouraged their hopes for a more humane world. E.g. the Unitarian minister John Disney and John Jebb (both abolitionist):
I later changed this to:
‘You blab of this book being rare,
And price not to sell but to scare!
(As if we cannot see,
That in ESTC,
There are sixty-six copies to spare!)’
‘You blab of this book being rare,
And price not to sell but to scare!
(As if we cannot see,
That in ESTC,
There are sixty-six copies to spare!)’
You write of this book being ‘rare’,
And price it to make me despair—
Yet right here I see,
In ESTC,
Some ninety-six copies to spare!
And price it to make me despair—
Yet right here I see,
In ESTC,
Some ninety-six copies to spare!
There's a lot of superlative language in the bookselling world but I'm intrigued to know just what is meant by 'impossibly rare'...
September 19, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I later changed this to:
‘You blab of this book being rare,
And price not to sell but to scare!
(As if we cannot see,
That in ESTC,
There are sixty-six copies to spare!)’
‘You blab of this book being rare,
And price not to sell but to scare!
(As if we cannot see,
That in ESTC,
There are sixty-six copies to spare!)’
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
There will be many casualties from UChicago ending ('pausing') PhD admissions in Humantities, but one which I am keenly aware of: this is close to a death sentence for teaching cuneiform in the United States (esp. Sumerian, Hittite, Elamite, Eblaite, Luwian) and it will affect the whole world.
“Chicago has long helped to keep alive tiny fields & esoteric areas of humanistic study... Without the univ’s support, & the continued training of grad students who can keep these bodies of kn going, entire spheres of human learning might eventually blink out.” www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...
If the University of Chicago Won’t Defend the Humanities, Who Will?
Why it matters that the University of Chicago is pausing admissions to doctoral programs in literature, philosophy, the arts, and languages
www.theatlantic.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
There will be many casualties from UChicago ending ('pausing') PhD admissions in Humantities, but one which I am keenly aware of: this is close to a death sentence for teaching cuneiform in the United States (esp. Sumerian, Hittite, Elamite, Eblaite, Luwian) and it will affect the whole world.
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
By far my favourite addition is the Case Reports (found by searching for "case report"), giving the outcomes of cases and points of legal interest. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_a...
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
By far my favourite addition is the Case Reports (found by searching for "case report"), giving the outcomes of cases and points of legal interest. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_a...
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Next week! Spaces still available.
DATE CHANGE. My workshop on using Equity and Conciliar Court records for research is now on Thursday 10 July 2025. Details and booking info via the link. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/past-early....
PAST Early Modern Legal Records: Equity and Conciliar Courts
Come to The National Archives for this introduction to Early Modern legal records!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Next week! Spaces still available.
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*
July 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
The Society is very pleased to announce the winners of its 2025 Early Career Article and First Book Prizes bit.ly/3GqSCfk
This year's recipients are Laura Flannigan, William Ross Jones, Michaela Kalcher, and Jules Skotnes-Brown for work published in 2024.
Our congratulations to all #Skystorians
This year's recipients are Laura Flannigan, William Ross Jones, Michaela Kalcher, and Jules Skotnes-Brown for work published in 2024.
Our congratulations to all #Skystorians
July 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The Society is very pleased to announce the winners of its 2025 Early Career Article and First Book Prizes bit.ly/3GqSCfk
This year's recipients are Laura Flannigan, William Ross Jones, Michaela Kalcher, and Jules Skotnes-Brown for work published in 2024.
Our congratulations to all #Skystorians
This year's recipients are Laura Flannigan, William Ross Jones, Michaela Kalcher, and Jules Skotnes-Brown for work published in 2024.
Our congratulations to all #Skystorians
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Slightly less extreme cataloguing today, but still no cakewalk. TNA C 147/395
June 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Slightly less extreme cataloguing today, but still no cakewalk. TNA C 147/395
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Over 24,000 entries now have shiny new descriptions in STAC 5. Over halfway there! discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_a...
June 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Over 24,000 entries now have shiny new descriptions in STAC 5. Over halfway there! discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_a...
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Time for another round of extreme cataloguing. This time it's Court of Wards pleadings. Horrible stuff. Well, no, the content is great, but it's horrible wrestling with it.
June 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Time for another round of extreme cataloguing. This time it's Court of Wards pleadings. Horrible stuff. Well, no, the content is great, but it's horrible wrestling with it.
My first article, ‘England’s Erastus? Or, James Morice and the Law of Excommunication’ is now out on FirstView with The Historical Journal.
doi.org/10.1017/S001...
doi.org/10.1017/S001...
June 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
My first article, ‘England’s Erastus? Or, James Morice and the Law of Excommunication’ is now out on FirstView with The Historical Journal.
doi.org/10.1017/S001...
doi.org/10.1017/S001...
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Not only too early, but too few chins to be Richard Bentley:
April 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Not only too early, but too few chins to be Richard Bentley:
May I call the attention of those concerned to the emblem of the University of Cambridge?
The world’s oldest academic publisher has used it for over four centuries in its books. It has often adorned title pages.
‘HINC LVCEM ET POCVLA SACRA’
The world’s oldest academic publisher has used it for over four centuries in its books. It has often adorned title pages.
‘HINC LVCEM ET POCVLA SACRA’
April 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
May I call the attention of those concerned to the emblem of the University of Cambridge?
The world’s oldest academic publisher has used it for over four centuries in its books. It has often adorned title pages.
‘HINC LVCEM ET POCVLA SACRA’
The world’s oldest academic publisher has used it for over four centuries in its books. It has often adorned title pages.
‘HINC LVCEM ET POCVLA SACRA’
Come and learn about legal history this Easter Term!
It will be legal! It will be historical! An Education Sensation! Etc.
It will be legal! It will be historical! An Education Sensation! Etc.
April 24, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Come and learn about legal history this Easter Term!
It will be legal! It will be historical! An Education Sensation! Etc.
It will be legal! It will be historical! An Education Sensation! Etc.
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Happy Friday to everyone, but especially our fantastic conservators.
#CULconservation are having a #CC20 watch party 📚
Excellent papers from colleagues @bodleianlibraries.bsky.social @lampallib.bsky.social @thejohnrylands.bsky.social among others.
#CareandConservationOfManuscripts #CambridgeUniversityLibraries @theul.bsky.social
Excellent papers from colleagues @bodleianlibraries.bsky.social @lampallib.bsky.social @thejohnrylands.bsky.social among others.
#CareandConservationOfManuscripts #CambridgeUniversityLibraries @theul.bsky.social
April 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Happy Friday to everyone, but especially our fantastic conservators.
Reposted by Adam B. Forsyth
Indeed, here is James Whitelocke on whether the King has the power to impose such tariffs without consent in 1610.
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
April 8, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Indeed, here is James Whitelocke on whether the King has the power to impose such tariffs without consent in 1610.
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
Nicholas Fuller, unsurprisingly, also said: no, the King cannot thus impose such tariffs, it being (amongst other things) against Magna Carta so to do:
![that all customs granted since i Edward i shall be taken away non obstante Charta Mercator because it is against
the great Charter; and according to that good precedent,*® I hope that it will be granted by this parliament that all new customs or impositions granted or any way encroached upon the subjects' goods or merchandise without parliament since the first year of Edward I shall be taken away as then they were, notwithstanding Charta Mercatoria" or any grant, ordi-nance, or judgment in the Exchequer or elsewhere had or made since that time, sith that the same appear to be contrary to the laws of the realm and directly contrary to the great Charter, which laws having once a settled allowance cannot be altered, changed, or made void by act of prince or peo-ple, but by mutual consent in parliament [fol. 64] of prince and people as all learned men know. And therefore when there was occasion and complaint made in parliament by the Commons at one time against the Lord Latimer and another time against one Richard Lyons for causing of impositions to be laid upon the merchants' goods without consent of parliament,3 neither those persons who were accused, nor any of the King's learned counsel at law did or could justify the same to be lawfully done by color of the prerogative or otherwise, but they were both punished for their so doing although that the same impositions were laid to continue for a very short time and in case of great necessities, whereas the impositions of late laid upon merchants' goods without the consent of parliament (now complained of) is excessive great and expressed to continue forever or at the least without any limitation of time, whereof the like was never seen in this land to the knowledge of us that profess the law.
And it is manifest that according to the said rule of law and right](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qunxd6yue3igcj6qdubntwlb/bafkreidg7g325sytae4staw7zx3zl6aewjrgvh4va55hu6vd25lsz23s2m@jpeg)
April 8, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Nicholas Fuller, unsurprisingly, also said: no, the King cannot thus impose such tariffs, it being (amongst other things) against Magna Carta so to do:
Indeed, here is James Whitelocke on whether the King has the power to impose such tariffs without consent in 1610.
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
April 8, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Indeed, here is James Whitelocke on whether the King has the power to impose such tariffs without consent in 1610.
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
Whitelocke says no—the King cannot do so—in even starker terms:
Here is Heneage Finch (1580–1631) speaking in the Parliament of 1610 on the legality of tariffs imposed without consent:
April 8, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Here is Heneage Finch (1580–1631) speaking in the Parliament of 1610 on the legality of tariffs imposed without consent:
You write of this book being ‘rare’,
And price it to make me despair—
Yet right here I see,
In ESTC,
Some ninety-six copies to spare!
And price it to make me despair—
Yet right here I see,
In ESTC,
Some ninety-six copies to spare!
There's a lot of superlative language in the bookselling world but I'm intrigued to know just what is meant by 'impossibly rare'...
a person 's finger is pointing to a book titled " hundertjahrgeschichte "
ALT: a person 's finger is pointing to a book titled " hundertjahrgeschichte "
media.tenor.com
April 2, 2025 at 4:36 PM
You write of this book being ‘rare’,
And price it to make me despair—
Yet right here I see,
In ESTC,
Some ninety-six copies to spare!
And price it to make me despair—
Yet right here I see,
In ESTC,
Some ninety-six copies to spare!